Warning device



June 1968 M. M. HULSE ETAL WARNING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 10, 1965 9 IE0 Z 3 4 W fisfl a 6 4 6 1 T E Y 4. w 4 M a 5 5 My... M 3 Wm M U. m 0 MR... 0 5 6 ll 8 W I 2 m wfl w 4 Z. 8 a a z x 5 5 4 Z 8 4 Mw 5 M 4 2 3 m d Y W a M a 2 w 3 3 .6 I 3 l \i 0 I 5 m I 8 M? w w M m 5 u Afl/ Ww 6 4 5 4 4 2 4 5 6 M 3 :IVIWI 1 .llll n lli 1 5 A a iih2W||l1 a .2 0 M3 2 w 5 0 IO 7 2 IO. Afl/ 3 MW 3 2 6 M United States Patent 3,389,387 WARNING DEVICE Mark M. Eloise, 306 W. Broadway, Coiumhia, Mo. 65201, and Wiihur K. Baker II, 2228 Westover Drive, Wichita, Kans. 67210 Filed Sept. 10, 1965, Ser. No. 486,442 2 Claims. ((Il. 340-2'72) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLGSURE A warning construction for calling attention to a diminishing or diminished supply of fluid, as blood or dextrose, being injected into a patient, comprising a cylindrical casing, a switch in the casing, a hook member to hold a container of fluid extending from the casing, a tension spring supporting the hook member, a switch actuator supported by the hook member and adapted to actuate said switch, and adjustable means suspending'said spring including a cup vertically movable in the casing, axially spaced holes in the casing, a hole in said cup and a spring biased push button extending through the cup hole and a selected hole in the casing.

The present invention relates generally to alarm or warning devices, and more particularly to a novel warning device for calling visible or audible attention to a diminishing or diminished supply of fluid, as blood or dextrose, being injected into a patient.

Many alarm or warning devices and constructions have been devised and some used to indicate a predetermined status of a supply of solution being injected into a patient. However, to the applicants knowledge, such devices and constructions have been complicated and expensive and often unreliable. There has long existed the need in hospitals, and the like, of such a device which is simple in use and construction, inexpensive, readily used and reliable.

Hence, an object of the present invention is to provide a novel warning device of the type referred to which fulfills the long-felt need.

In brief, the present invention comprises a casing having means'for suspending the same from a support and means to hold a container of blood, dextrose, or other fluid. Means are providedfor moving the holding means upwardly upon the injection into a patient of a predetermined amount of fluid therefrom to close a circuit to energize an audible or visual signal. Adjustments are provided to support operatively containers of difierent capacities and different weights.

Therefore, another object of the present invention is to provide a novel warning device for use in the injection of fluids which is adjustable in respect to capacity and point of operation, positive in signaling operation, and simple both in construction and use.

Further objects are to provide a novel Warning device of the type mentioned which is inexpensive, which will function repeatedly over a long period of time with minimum maintenance and down time, which is readily adjusted in respect to capacity and point of operation, and which otherwise fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

The foregoing andother objects and advantages are apparent from the following description taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic view, partly in side elevation, of a warning device incorporating the teachings of the present invention suspended from a support and supporting a container of fluid in position for injection in a patient, a call light board being connected to the device;

ninety degrees to FIGURE 5 taken on substantially the line 7-7 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 8 is a horizontal cross-sectional view on substantially the line 88 of FIGURE 5; I

FIGURE 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view similar to FIGURE 5 illustrating the relationship of parts with the warning device set to handle a container holding onehalf of the fluid handled by the device when set as in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 7 illustrating the movable parts in loaded positions;

FIGURE 11 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, but with the locking button in a non-operative position midway between locking positions; and

FIGURE 12 is a view similar to FIGURE 6, illustrating the locking button in a locking position one-hundred and eighty degrees to that of FIGURE 6.

Referring to the drawings more particularly by reference numerals, indicates generally a warning device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The 'warning device 26 comprises a casing 22, shown as cylindrical, the top end of which is closed by a reversely disposed rotatable cup 24 having a bottom 26 maintained against upward removal by a narrow inwardly directed flange 28 found at the top of the casing 22. A threaded aperture is formed centrally in the bottom 26 and threadedly receives an Allen-headed bolt 30 which is locked in selected position by a nut 32 which receives the opposed mounting ends of a handle 34. The nut 32 is rotated into frictional engagement with the bottom 26 by clockwise movement of the handle 34.

In the side of the casing 22 near the top is one set of vertically spaced openings 36, 37 and 38. A second set of openings 39, 4t) and 41 is located at the opposite side. There may be other sets to accommodate still different blood container series. A button 42 is supported by a leaf-type spring 44 disposed in the cup 24. The button 42 extends through an opening 46 in the wall of the cup 24 as a guide and through a selected opening 36-41 or other provided opening, to maintain the cup 24 in selected position. It is clear that the button 42 can be pushed inwardly against the force of the spring 44 to permit rotation and reciprocative movement of the cup 24 by use of the handle 34 to position the button 42 in another selected opening.

To the lower end of the bolt 30 is connected the upper end of a tension spring 46, the lower end of the latter being connected to the upper end of the shaft 48 of a hook 50, having a hook portion 51. The upper portion of the shaft 48 is threaded, and threaded thereon for vertical adjustment is a disc member 52 which is secured in selected position by a lock nut 54. The shaft 48 extends through an opening in the bottom of a second cup 56 which closes the lower end of the casing 22, being maintained in position by brads or screws 58, or the like. Secured within the second cup 56 is a conventional microswitch 60 having a normally extended actuator button 62, which is in closed or circuit making relation when the button 62 is pushed inwardly. Leads 64 of the switch 60 extend through an opening in the casing 22.

In FIGURE 5, the warning device is illustrated without a load, hence, the elements are in rest relation with the hook portion 51 just against the bottom of the cup 56 and the tension spring 46 retracted.

In FIGURE 1, the warning device 20 is shown suspended from a hook 70 adjustably mounted on a post 72 which is part of a portable support 73. A container 74 of fluid, as dextrose or blood, is suspended from the hook portion 51. The leads 64 are connected to a call board 76 located at a central point for actuation of a particular signal, as that numbered 6, which is shown as an electric light, but may be an audible device, as a buzzer.

It will be understood that with the container 74 filled with fluid on the hook portion 51, the disc member 52 will rest on the button 62 of the microswitch 60, thereby pressing the button 62 inwardly into closed position to open the circuit to the call board 76. The container 74 and contents are heavy enough to stretch the tension spring 46. However, as the fluid is injected into a patient, the load lightens and eventually reaches a predetermined point where the spring 46 raises the load and the disc member 52 to permit the button 62 to resume the position of FIGURE 5. Thereupon, the circuit to the call board 76 is closed and the signal numbered 6 is energized to warn the nurse or attendant that the blood container 74 requires attention, as replacing. It is medically highly undesirable to permit the container 74 to empty.

As pointed out above, the equilibrium positions of the spring 46 and hook 50 with the button 42 in the heavy load or 1000 cc. opening 36 is shown in FIGURE 5. The hook portion 51 just engages the bottom of the cup 56. The disc member 52 will be at its maximum position above the switch 60 for a particular series of containers and contents and for a selected diminished content Warning point. When the button 42 is lodged in opening 38 for use of the warning device 20 with a 500 cc. container 74, the disc member 52 and opening 46 are bodily lowered closer to the switch 60. Similarly, the disc member 52 and spring 46 are in the opening 40 for using a 250 cc. container 74. In each instance, the disc member 52 will be lifted by the spring 46 at substantially the same selected diminished content of the container 74.

When it is desired to change the warning actuation point, for example to 20 cc. remaining in the container 74 from a greater or a lesser amount, it is simply necessary to loosen the nut 32 by turning the handle 34 counterclockwise and then to rotate the bolt with an Allen wrench in the desired direction to increase or decrease the tension of the spring 46. Thereafter, the nut 32 is tightened.

The disc member 52 is positioned initially on the threaded portion of the shaft 48 to achieve a satisfactory working relation between the spring 46 and actuation of the switch button 62. Thereafter, it is locked with the nut 54 and the cup 56 when switch 60 is installed.

It is manifest that there has been provided a novel warning device which fulfills the objects and advantages sought therefor.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing have been given by way of illustration and example. It is also to be understood that the changes in form of the elements, rearrangement of parts, and substitution of equivalent elements, which will be obvious to those skilled in the art, are contemplated as within the scope of the present invention which is limited only by the claims which follow.

We claim:

1. A warning construction for indicating the existence of a predetermined condition comprising, in combination, a casing, circuit break and make means comprising a switch disposed in said casing adapted for electric connection to a warning device, and means supported by said casing for holding a dispensing means, and the like, including a hook member, a suspending tension spring, and a switch actuator for predeterminately actuating said circuit break and make means to signal a predetermined change in supply in the held dispensing means, and the like, the spring being suspended in said casing and said switch actuator and a portion of said hook member being in said casing, a portion of said hook member extending from said casing, means for suspending said spring, said spring suspending means being multi-adjustable for selectively locating said spring in said casing, said spring suspending means comprising a cup-shaped member disposed at the top portion of said casing including an opening in the wall thereof, at least one group of openings spaced axially in said casing of comparable size with said cup opening, and a spring-pressed member removably engaging in a selected opening in said casing and said opening in said cup-shaped member for maintaining said spring in selected position.

2. The combination of claim 1 and including means for adjusting the position of said spring in respect to said cup-shaped member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,326,208 8/1943 Edwards ZOO-- 2,706,755 4/1955 Krasno 340-272 X 3,105,490 10/1963 Schoenfeld ..340-272 X 3,287,721 11/1966 Baehr 340--272 JOHN W. CALDWELL, Primary Examiner. THOMAS E. HABECKER, Examiner. D. L. TRAFTON, Assistant Examiner. 

